Strong increase in chlamydia and gonorrhea – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

The number of infections fell during the pandemic, but now the number is on the rise. Cases of HIV and syphilis also increased from 2021 to 2022. This is shown by figures from the monitoring of sexually transmitted infections. The infections have been registered in FHI’s reporting system for infectious diseases. New peak year for chlamydia There was a decline in chlamydia during the pandemic. In 2022, 29,271 cases of chlamydia were reported in Norway. This was an increase from the previous year, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Reported cases of chlamydia in 2022 are at the same level as in 2019. 2019 was a peak year for chlamydia. – From August 2022, the number of cases of chlamydia will be higher than before. This coincided with a corresponding increase in gonorrhea among young heterosexually infected people, and can be attributed to increased social contact after the reopening of society. Some changes in the criteria for reporting and monitoring may also have contributed to the increase in the number of reports, says senior researcher Anne Olaug Olsen at FHI. Tenfold increase in gonorrhea cases among young women Cases of gonorrhea have also increased sharply after the pandemic. The number has more than tripled from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, 555 cases of gonorrhea were reported, while the number of reported cases of infection in 2022 is 1,857. In the last ten years, there has been a tenfold increase in gonorrhea cases among young women. FHI has previously said that they are concerned about the development. – 80-90 per cent of men will experience burning symptoms during urination and discharge. For women, the symptoms are vaguer. Half of the women who become infected do not notice symptoms, and are not aware that they are infected, senior advisor Øivind Nilsen at FHI previously told news. – The longer you have an infection, the greater the risk of developing late complications. HIV and syphilis on the rise Both syphilis and HIV are also on the rise. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health writes that the HIV situation is characterized by the fact that a large number of HIV-positive refugees and immigrants came to Norway after the pandemic. In 2022, 245 HIV cases were reported, while the number in 2021 was 102. 78 per cent of the 245 cases were infected before they came to Norway.



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